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brown diatom Synedra

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I think that is what this is, I have read you can get outbreaks of it in newly established tanks (although I am not great in bio-chemistry so i don't really know why). I have removed some by hand but it's popping up all over now, any one else dealt with this successfully?

Diatomic algae uses certain chemicals that are leached from new substrate(silicates). They are one of the easiest algae to get rid of. You could play the waiting game, that is, just be patient until the substances required by the diatoms gets used up. Or get some algae eaters. Pretty much any algae eater known in the hobby will eat this type of algae, although snails and otocinclus are some of the better ones.

Diatoms need silicates to survive. That typically comes from new substrate or your water supply. If it is coming from your substrate, it should only last a month or two and the diatoms will disappear once they have consumed all the silicates. If it is coming form your water supply, using some chemi-pure in your filter will help to remove the silicates and the diatoms

Last edited by Cliff; 02-07-2013 at 09:42 PM.

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